Clinical Program Director

Job Description

Job Description

Position Summary

The Clinical Programming Director is responsible for the development, implementation, coordination, and quality of clinical programming within a 6-bed residential mental health facility. This leadership role ensures clients receive individualized, coordinated care addressing behavioral health, psychiatric, medical, wellness, and discharge needs.

The Clinical Programming Director works closely with the Director of Operations, Medical Director, nursing, therapists, case management, behavioral health technicians, and administration to support continuity of care, interdisciplinary communication, regulatory compliance, staff performance, and positive client outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

Clinical & Program Leadership

• Maintains a small caseload and conduct group sessions 
• Direct and oversee clinical, therapeutic, behavioral health, and recovery-oriented programming.
• Develop structured programming based on diagnoses, acuity, client needs, and treatment goals.
• Ensure evidence-based, trauma-informed, and person-centered treatment approaches.
• Evaluate groups, curricula, interventions, and program effectiveness.
• Develop new programming based on client needs and outcome data.
• Ensure consistent implementation of the daily and weekly program schedule.

Medical & Psychiatric Care Coordination

• Oversee coordination of clients’ medical and psychiatric needs in collaboration with the Medical Director and nursing team.
• Ensure medical concerns, psychiatric needs, medication issues, labs, appointments, and follow-up recommendations are communicated to the appropriate licensed provider.
• Promote coordination between medical, psychiatric, clinical, and residential services.
• Participate in multidisciplinary treatment meetings to review progress, medical concerns, psychiatric stability, barriers, and level-of-care needs.
• Ensure appropriate referrals and continuity of care for outside medical and specialty services.
• Promote timely communication regarding changes in client condition or treatment recommendations.

Treatment Oversight

• Review assessments and individualized treatment plans.
• Ensure treatment plans are measurable, clinically appropriate, and updated timely.
• Monitor client progress, treatment outcomes, and discharge readiness.
• Ensure discharge planning addresses clinical, psychiatric, medical, medication, and aftercare needs.
• Assist with complex cases, crisis intervention, suicide risk management, and safety planning.

Staff Leadership

• Provide oversight, coaching, and accountability for clinical and programming staff.
• Assist with hiring, onboarding, competency evaluations, training, and performance reviews.
• Monitor documentation quality, productivity, professionalism, and programming expectations.
• Coordinate communication among therapists, medical providers, nursing, case management, behavioral health technicians, and administration.

Quality & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with AHCA regulations, Florida Statutes, HIPAA, 42 CFR Part 2, payer requirements, professional standards, accreditation standards, and organizational policies.
• Participate in QAPI activities, audits, incident reviews, and performance improvement initiatives.
• Monitor trends, client outcomes, and areas requiring corrective action.
• Assist with regulatory surveys, accreditation reviews, policy development, and corrective action plans.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Counseling, Social Work, Psychology, Marriage and Family Therapy, Healthcare Administration, Behavioral Health, or related field.
• Florida clinical licensure preferred, including LMHC, LCSW, LMFT, or Licensed Psychologist.
• Minimum 3 years of behavioral health experience, preferably in residential mental health treatment.
• Leadership or supervisory experience in behavioral healthcare.
• Experience developing or managing behavioral health programming.
• Knowledge of treatment planning, psychiatric and medical care coordination, crisis management, and regulatory compliance.
• Current CPR certification, Level II Background Screening, and valid Florida driver’s license.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with AHCA surveys, Joint Commission standards, quality improvement, electronic health records, trauma-informed care, co-occurring disorders, EMDR, eating disorder treatment, and program development.

Performance Expectations

Maintain high-quality programming, strong interdisciplinary communication, timely coordination of clinical and medical needs, regulatory compliance, accurate documentation, staff accountability, positive client outcomes, and a culture of safety, professionalism, recovery, and continuous improvement.